Method and system for signaling responsive to sensing contamination in a suction regulator device

ABSTRACT

The present application relates generally to a suction regulator device and, more specifically, to a method and system for signaling responsive to sensing that the suction regulator device has become contaminated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/066,013, filed Oct. 20, 2014. The present applicationclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/159,807,filed May 11, 2015. The contents of both documents are herebyincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present application relates generally to a suction regulator deviceand, more specifically, to a method and system for signaling responsiveto sensing that the suction regulator device has become contaminated.

BACKGROUND

Various models of suction regulator devices exist in the market. Each ofthe various models share similar features, while some models possessunique capabilities.

A suction regulator device is a regulation means for controlling thevacuum and flow of the vacuum source from a vacuum terminal of a vacuumsupply system. The suction regulator device, together with a liquidcollection bottle for clinical liquid suction, forms a suction system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanyingdrawings which show example implementations; and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates, in perspective view, a suction regulator device;

FIG. 2 illustrates, in exploded perspective view, elements of thesuction regulator device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates example steps in a method of signaling responsive tosensing contamination of the suction regulator device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 illustrates example steps in a method of signaling responsive tosensing contamination the suction regulator device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present application relates generally to a suction regulator deviceand, more specifically, to a method and system for signaling responsiveto sensing that the suction regulator device has become contaminated.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided amethod of signaling responsive to sensing contamination of a suctionregulator device. The method includes receiving, from a sensor, anindication, determining, from the indication, that the suction regulatordevice has been contaminated and responsive to the determining,transmitting, to an alerting device, an instruction to generate an alertindicative of the contamination. In other aspects of the presentapplication, a suction regulator device is provided with a processor forcarrying out this method and a computer readable medium is provided foradapting a processor in a suction regulator device to carry out thismethod.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda suction regulator device. The suction regulator device includes amolded layer defining an entry point, a plurality of channels and apathway that connects the entry point to the channels and an opaquecover adapted to cover the molded layer, the opaque cover defining anaperture, the aperture closed with a transparent window, the windowlocated proximate to the pathway.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a suction regulator device. The suction regulator deviceincludes a molded layer defining an entry point, a plurality of channelsand a pathway that connects the entry point to the channels and anopaque cover adapted to cover the molded layer, the opaque coverdefining an aperture, the aperture closed with a transparent windowlocated proximate to the channels.

According to a still further aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a method of retrofitting a suction regulator device, thesuction regulator device having a layer defining an entry point, aplurality of channels and a pathway that connects the entry point to thechannels. The method includes installing a sensor proximate the pathway,installing an alerting device and installing a processor. The processorbeing adapted to receive, from the sensor, an indication, determine,from the indication, that the suction regulator device has beencontaminated and transmit, to the alerting device, an instruction togenerate an alert indicative of the contamination.

According to an even further aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a method of retrofitting a suction regulator device, thesuction regulator device having a layer defining an entry point, aplurality of channels and a pathway that connects the entry point to thechannels, the suction regulator device also having a first cover adaptedto cover the layer. The method includes removing the first cover andinstalling a second cover in place of the first cover, the second coverdefining an aperture, the aperture closed with a transparent window, thewindow located proximate to the pathway.

According to a still even further aspect of the present disclosure,there is provided a method of retrofitting a suction regulator device,the suction regulator device having a layer defining an entry point, aplurality of channels and a pathway that connects the entry point to thechannels, the suction regulator device also having a first cover adaptedto cover the layer. The method including removing the first cover andinstalling a second cover in place of the first cover, the second coverdefining an aperture, the aperture closed with a transparent window, thewindow located proximate to the channels.

According to a still even further aspect of the present disclosure,there is provided a suction regulator device. The suction regulatordevice includes a base, a cover and a layer defining an entry point, aplurality of channels and a pathway that connects the entry point to thechannels. The base and the cover enclose the layer. The base comprises amaterial that is at least partially transparent, thereby allowingviewing of the channels and any contaminants that may have entered intothe channels.

According to a still even further aspect of the present disclosure,there is provided a method of retrofitting an existing vacuum system,the vacuum system having a vacuum source, a vacuum line communicationbetween vacuum source and patient cavity and a suction regulator withinthe vacuum line. The method includes installing at least one sensorwithin a pathway along the vacuum line and installing an alertingdevice. The method further includes installing a circuit adapted toreceive, from the sensor, an indication, determine, from the indication,that the vacuum line has been contaminated and transmit, to the alertingdevice, an instruction to generate an alert of the contamination.

Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of thefollowing description of specific implementations of the disclosure inconjunction with the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates, in perspective view, a suction regulator device 100.The suction regulator device 100 includes, among other features, a cover106, a contamination indicator light 102 and a low battery indicatorlight 104.

FIG. 2 illustrates, in exploded perspective view, elements of thesuction regulator device 100. The suction regulator device 100 includesa base 202, a circuit board 204 and a molded layer 206. The base 202 hasa generally flat structure except for a flanged portion 208 at an end ofthe suction regulator device 100 that may be connected to a clinicalapparatus that requires suction. The flanged portion 208 defines anaperture 209. The opposite end of the suction regulator device 100 maybe connected to a vacuum terminal of a vacuum supply system (not shown).

The molded layer 206 defines a plurality of channels 214. The moldedlayer 206 also defines an entry point 210. When the suction regulatordevice 100 is properly assembled, the location of the entry point 210coincides with the location of the aperture 209 in the flange 208 of thebase 202. Between the entry point 210 and the channels 214, the moldedlayer 206 defines a pathway 212. A light source 218 may be located onone side of the pathway 212. A corresponding light sensor 216 may belocated on an opposite side of the pathway 212. The light source 218 maybe, for but two examples, an incandescent bulb or a light emittingdiode.

The pathway 212 may contain features designed to collect contaminants.Such features may, for example, be located in the pathway 212 proximateto the light sensor 216. Furthermore, an optical filter (not shown) maybe placed between the light source 218 and the light sensor 216. Theoptical filter may, for example, comprise a polarizing filter.

The circuit board 204 may house a processor (not shown) and a memory(not shown).

In the models of suction regulator devices that are currently available,it is up to the users to decide whether to send a suction regulatordevice to the user's “cleaning” department for cleaning or sanitizing.Since each suction regulator device is a closed system, there iscurrently no method by which to identify whether a given suctionregulator device is contaminated. As will be readily understood,contamination may take many forms. In general, contamination may involvepresence, in the suction regulator device 100, of particles and/oraspirates.

In overview, by utilizing various unique features of the suctionregulator device 100 of FIG. 1, a user may learn that a foreign body haspassed into the suction regulator device 100, that is, that the suctionregulator device 100 has become contaminated. Responsive to learningthat the suction regulator device 100 has become contaminated, it isexpected that the user will understand that the suction regulator device100 should be taken out of use. Perhaps the user will, responsive tolearning that the suction regulator device 100 has become contaminated,send the suction regulator device 100 to a cleaning department.

Steps in an example method or algorithm of sensing contamination areillustrated in FIG. 3. The method may, for example, be carried out bythe processor on the circuit board 204 of the suction regulator device100. Initially, the processor may poll (step 302) the sensor 216.Responsive to being polled, the sensor 216 transmits, to the processor,a contamination indication. Upon receiving (step 304) the contaminationindication, the processor determines (step 306), from the receivedcontamination indication, whether the suction regulator device 100 hasbeen contaminated. Upon determining (step 306) that the suctionregulator device 100 has not been contaminated, the processor returns tothe polling step (step 302). Upon determining (step 306) that thesuction regulator device 100 has been contaminated, the processor maytransmit (step 308) an instruction to an alerting device, instructingthe alerting device to generate an alert, thereby indicating to the userthat the suction regulator device 100 has been contaminated.

There a many manners in which the sensor 216 may be implemented. Inoperation, in one example, the light source 218 illuminates the pathway212. The light sensor 216, located on the opposite side of the pathway212, measures received light. The light sensor 216 may be initializedwith a threshold measurement of light, representative of a predeterminedclarity in the pathway 212. Responsive to polling from the processor,the light sensor may obtain a measurement of light, compare themeasurement to the threshold and transmit a binary contaminationindication to the processor. As a consequence of obtaining a measurementof light that is at or above the threshold, the light sensor 216 maytransmit, to the processor, a contamination indication that indicates nocontamination. As a consequence of obtaining a measurement of light thatis below the threshold, the light sensor 216 may transmit, to theprocessor, a contamination indication that indicates contamination.Accordingly, a reduction in amount of light received at the light sensor216 from the light source 218 is associated with a presence of organicmatter in the pathway 212.

In one embodiment, the pathway 212 contains features (not shown)designed to collect contaminants. In the presence of such features, thelight sensor 216 may be replaced by, or augmented with, a conductivitysensor (not shown). The conductivity sensor may be adapted to measure aconductivity of contaminants collected by the feature designed tocollect contaminants.

The conductivity sensor may be initialized with a set point measurementof conductivity, representative of a lack of contaminants in the featureof the pathway 212. Responsive to polling from the processor, theconductivity sensor may obtain a measurement of conductivity, comparethe measurement to the set point and transmit a binary contaminationindication to the processor. As a consequence of obtaining a measurementof conductivity that is at or below the threshold, the conductivitysensor may transmit, to the processor, a contamination indication thatindicates no contamination. As a consequence of obtaining a measurementof conductivity that is above the threshold, the conductivity sensor maytransmit, to the processor, a contamination indication that indicatescontamination.

There a many manners in which the alerting device may be implemented.The alerting device may, for a few examples, employ an alert that isviewable, an alert that is audible and/or an alert that employs haptictechnology. Haptic technology is a tactile feedback technology thatrelates to the sense of touch and may involve the application of forces,vibrations and/or other motions to a user.

An example viewable alert may be mechanical in nature. For instance, bydefault, a user may be allowed to view, through a transparent window(not shown) in the cover 106 of the suction regulator device 100, afirst strip. The first strip may, for example, be white. Responsive toreceiving, from the processor, the instruction, the alerting device mayreplace the first strip with a second strip, where the color of thesecond strip is distinct from the color of the first strip. The secondstrip may, for example, be red. The window through which the strip maybe viewed by the user may be anywhere in the cover 106 of the suctionregulator device 100.

Alternatively, there may be a bicolor strip, the bicolor strip having afirst color and a second color. By default, the window in the cover 106may allow viewing of only the first color of the bicolor strip.Responsive to receiving the instruction, generating the alert indicativeof the contamination may involve causing switching such that the windowallows viewing of only the second color of the bicolor strip.

The alerting device may comprise a viewing window whose marking, coloror shape changes by a mechanical means. The mechanical means may be, forthree examples, a solenoid, a magnetic switch or a motor.

Another example viewable alert may by electronic in nature. Forinstance, by default, the contamination indicator light 102 may be OFF.Responsive to receiving, from the processor, the instruction, thealerting device may switch ON the contamination indicator light 102. Thecontamination indicator light 102 may be an incandescent bulb or may beone or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), among other options. Indeed, aliquid crystal display (LCD) screen may also be employed as an alertingdevice.

Where the contamination indicator light 102 is one or more LEDs, bydefault, the contamination indicator light 102 may glow green.Responsive to receiving, from the processor, the instruction, thealerting device may switch the contamination indicator light 102 to glowred.

The audible alarm to notify the user that the unit has becomecontaminated may be heard directly from the device. The audiblenotification can also be sent from the device to a master nurse station,or to whomever the users would like the notification sent.

FIG. 4 illustrates example steps in a method of signaling responsive tosensing contamination the suction regulator device 100 of FIG. 1. Themethod may, for example, be carried out by circuitry on the circuitboard 204 of the suction regulator device 100. Initially, the circuitrymay provide power (step 402) to the sensor 216. Responsive to beingpolled, the sensor 216 transmits, to the circuitry, a contaminationindication. Upon receiving (step 404) the contamination indication, thecircuitry amplifies (step 405) the indication. It may be considered thatthe circuitry receives (step 406) a set point defining a border betweencontaminated and clean. For simplicity, the set point may be establishedas a fixed tap on a circuit including one or more resistors.Alternatively, set point may be established as a variable tap on apotentiometer. Responsive to the amplification (step 405) of theindication, the circuitry determines (step 407), from the amplifiedindication, whether the amplified indication exceeds the set point. Upondetermining (step 407) that the amplified indication does not exceed theset point, the circuitry returns to the polling step (step 402). Upondetermining (step 407) that the amplified indication exceeds the setpoint, the circuitry may turn on (step 408) an alerting device, therebyindicating to the user that the suction regulator device 100 has beencontaminated.

For completeness, it is noted that instead of, or in addition to, asystem that autonomously determines contamination and generates analert, the suction regulator device 100 may be arranged to allow for anassessment by the user.

In one example, mirrors (not shown) may be installed in the channels 214with an orientation that reflects light in the channels 214 through awindow (not shown) that may be inspected by the user. It is left to theuser to, by inspecting the channels 214 through the window, determinewhether the suction regulator device 100 has been contaminated.

In another example, an ultraviolet light source (not shown) may beinstalled in the channels 214 such that any material in the channels 214may be illuminated and viewed, by the user, through a window (notshown). It is left to the user to, by inspecting the illuminatedmaterial (if any) through the window, determine whether the suctionregulator device 100 has been contaminated.

In a further example, the entry point 210 may be viewed, by the user,through a window (not shown). The window may be specifically arranged toprovide a predetermined magnification to enhance the inspection of thechannels by the user. It is left to the user to, by inspecting the entrypoint 210 through the window, determine whether the suction regulatordevice 100 has been contaminated.

Notably, existing suction regulator devices may be upgraded to allow forautonomous signaling of contamination and/or user-accomplishedcontamination inspection.

For one autonomous signaling example, upgrading an existing suctionregulator device may begin with disassembly. More particularly, thecover may be removed. Subsequently, an existing circuit board and moldedlayer may be removed and replaced with the circuit board 204 and themolded layer 206 of FIG. 2. Additionally, if the alerting device isdistinct from the circuit board 204 and the molded layer 206, theexisting suction regulator device may be adapted to accommodate thealerting device. For example, the existing suction regulator device maybe provided with a replacement cover 106 with associated contaminationindicator light 102 and/or low battery indicator light 104. Notably,rather than replace the molded layer, upgrading an existing suctionregulator device may involve installing a sensor device proximate thepathway in the molded layer of the existing suction regulator device.

For one user-accomplished contamination inspection example, upgrading anexisting suction regulator device may begin with disassembly. Moreparticularly, the cover may be removed. Subsequently, the existingsuction regulator device may be provided with a replacement cover (notshown). The replacement cover may, for one example, include atransparent window through which the user may inspect channels in amolded layer of the existing suction regulator device. The replacementcover may, for another example, include a transparent window throughwhich the user may inspect the entry point of a molded layer of theexisting suction regulator device.

While the cover 106 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as formed of an opaquematerial, the person of ordinary skill in the art may consider that thecover 106 may be formed of a material that is wholly or partiallytransparent, thereby obviating a requirement for a transparent window.

Similarly, while the base 202 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as formed of anopaque material, the person of ordinary skill in the art may considerthat the base 202 may be formed of a material that is wholly orpartially transparent, thereby obviating a requirement for a transparentwindow for viewing the channels and any contaminants that may haveentered into the channels.

The person of ordinary skill in the art will also understand that themolded layer 206 may be formed by other processes, such as a machiningprocess, rather than a molding process. Furthermore, the molded layer206 and the base 202 may, optionally, be formed as one, integral piece.

The above-described implementations of the present application areintended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variationsmay be effected to the particular implementations by those skilled inthe art without departing from the scope of the application, which isdefined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A suction regulator device comprising: a layerdefining an entry point, a plurality of channels and a pathway thatconnects the entry point to the channels, the channels connected to avacuum terminal of a vacuum supply system: a sensor and a light sourcelocated on either sides of the pathway, wherein the sensor is operableto sense a change in clarity of a gas passing from the entry point to avacuum terminal by sensing light from the light source; an alertingdevice; and a processor adapted to: receive, from the sensor, anindication; determine, from the indication, that the suction regulatordevice has been contaminated; and transmit, to the alerting device, aninstruction to generate an alert indicative of contamination.
 2. Thesuction regulator device of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a lightsensor adapted to measure an amount of light received from the lightsource, wherein a change in amount of light received from the lightsource is associated with a presence of contamination in the pathway. 3.The suction regulator device of claim 2 wherein the light sourcecomprises an incandescent bulb.
 4. The suction regulator device of claim2 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.
 5. Thesuction regulator device of claim 2 further comprising an optical filterbetween the light sensor and the light source.
 6. The suction regulatordevice of claim 5 wherein the optical filter comprises a polarizingfilter.
 7. The suction regulator device of claim 1 wherein the pathwaycontains features to collect contaminants.
 8. The suction regulatordevice of claim 7 wherein the sensor comprises a conductivity sensoradapted to measure a conductivity of the contaminants.
 9. The suctionregulator device of claim 1 wherein the alerting device comprises acontamination indicator light.
 10. The suction regulator device of claim9 wherein the contamination indicator light comprises an incandescentbulb.
 11. The suction regulator device of claim 9 wherein thecontamination indicator light comprises a light emitting diode.
 12. Thesuction regulator device of claim 1 wherein the alerting devicecomprises a device operable to produce an alert that is audible.
 13. Thesuction regulator device of claim 1 wherein the alerting devicecomprises a device operable to produce an alert that employs haptictechnology.
 14. A method of retrofitting a suction regulator device, thesuction regulator device having a layer defining an entry point, aplurality of channels and a pathway that connects the entry point to thechannels, the channels connected to a vacuum terminal of a vacuum supplysystem, the method comprising: installing a sensor and a light sourcelocated on either sides of the pathway, wherein the sensor is operableto sense a change in clarity of a gas passing from the entry point tovacuum terminal by sensing light from the light source; installing analerting device; and installing a processor adapted to: receive, fromthe sensor, an indication; determine, from the indication, that thesuction regulator device has been contaminated; and transmit, to thealerting device, an instruction to generate an alert indicative of thecontamination.